Well cleaner



P. R. SHORT WELL CLEANER Feb. 18, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19 1928 P. R. SHORT WELL CLEANER Feb. 18, 1930.

Filed April 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hilwitness fitsey f? 452013 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 res UNITED STA POSEY 3. SHORT, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA WELL CLEANER Application filed 'April 19,

The invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning sediment, sand, etc., from drilled wells, whether oil and gas wellsor water wells.

One object of the invention is to provide a device which will effectively agitate the sediment and draw it upwardly into'th e tubular body of the device,'by' means of which it is elevated from the .well.

A further aim is, to provide a device in which the sediment agitator is provided with a scoop-like portion which scrapes the bottom of the well incident to rotation of said agitator. 5 c

Further aims are "to provide novel means for rotating the agitator-and creating upward suction therein; to provide unique means, operated by compressed air, for rotating the agitator and creating the upward suction therein; to provide novel operating means-for a valve which is instrumental in bringing into play, the pneumatic operating means for the agitator and the suctioncreating means; and to make unique provision for holding the body of the cleaner against rotation while theagitator is being rotated. I i

A still further-object is to provide a construction which is rather simple-and ineX- 0 pensive, yet highly eflicient, reliable and gen erally desirable. Y

lVith the foregoing in View, the invention resides inthenovel subject matter herein after described and claimed, description beingaccomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig, 1 is a side elevation partly broken away'and in section, showing the relation of parts when the cleaner is being lowered into Fig. 2 iska longitudinal sectional. view, the

parts, being in the relation shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view'similar toiFigg 2,'but illus-.v

trating the relation of parts which takes place when the cleaner is functioning to receive sediment or the like from the well.

Fig.4 is ausideeleVationpartly in section illustrating the connecting device by means of which'a line is connected with the 1928. Serial no. 271,292;

upper end of the tool body, for lowering and raising the same. 1

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are horizontalsectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1. Y r e The, main body of the cleaner isiof vertically elongated, tubular form adapted to be lowered in to a well casing, said body being indicated in a,- general way by the reference 7 character B. Body B is provided at its lower portion with a suction cylinder S, above this cylinder, with a pressure cylinder P, and above this pressure cylinder, with a compressed air chamber C; In producing these three portions, I may well form the body B as shown "in the drawings, in which 8 denotes alower length of tubing, 9 has reference to a combined coupling member and closure at the upper end of the tubing 8, 1O

denotes an intermediate lengthof tubing coupled to the member 9, 11 refers to an upper length of tubing, and 12 denotes acombined partition and coupling connecting the tubings 1011 and cutting off communica-" tion between them. A line-connecting device D connects with the upper end of the tubing -11 and embodies a cup-like base 1-3 in the closing links 16, complete straightening of these links being prevented by limiting means which,

preferably consists of ashank 17 projectin g downwardly from the coupling member-1 1 into thebase 13, a head 18 on the lower end of said shank, and a bushingor the like19 closing the upperendof the base 13 and dis posed in the upward path ofsaid head18 As these parts 171819 prevent complete straightening of the links' '16,that is movement of the upper and lowerlinks intoidirect alinement with each other,'-said linksare' in readiness to buckle outwardly as in Fig; 3, p

when the cable-connecting device D isfree' lowering the device into the well. to. this lowering, as before, the links 16.0f the agitator while suction is being created in the latter, by means of the ascending piston 34. The check valve 32'opens to permit this entrance of material, but when the entire device is being withdrawn from the well, the valve closes toprevent discharge of such material until desired. Contact of the sharp-edged rollers 20 with the Well casing of courseholds the entire body B against rotation, while the agitator 24 is being operated. Without these rollers or some equivalent'means, there would be danger of the tool body insteadof the agi tator, rotating.

WVhen the device is withdrawn from the well, the valve 32 may be opened in any desired way, and held open while discharge of material from the interior of the agitator 24 and possibly the lower portion of the suction cylinder S, is being eifected. To restore the parts to normal position, air pressure may be introduced either into the cylinder P through the vent or the like 42, or intov the cylinder S through the valve or. other member 44, it being understood that this pressure must exceed that which has been trapped in the pressure cylinderP under the piston 38, so that the two pistons 3834 willbe driven downwardly to their normal positions. This trapped air may either be. permitted to escape through the valve or the like 43 or it may again ascend through the passage 39, into the compressed air chamber C, for further use.

It is ofcourse trapped in this chamber C by 7 closing. ofthe Valve 40. Ifair fromibelow the piston 38 be permitted to escape through the valve or the like 43, then, with the valve .40 closed, the chamber C is refilled with compressed air through the valve 41, before again Incident cable-connecting device D, hold the valve 40 closed, through the instrumentality of thearm 22 and the'rod 23. At this time, the rollers 20 are retracted from thewelLv casing, but the links, 16 stand-in readiness to project these rollers against the casing and to depress the rod'23, when the tool reaches the bottom of the well.

Excellent results are obtainablefrom the generalconstruction shown and described,

' and it is therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made and it will be understood that the device is usable wherever such use will be of'advantage, regardless of the charactergolf .thdWell to be cleaned and thematerial' to beremoved.

i 1. In a well cleaner, a vertically'elongated tubular body having a suction cylinder. at its lower end, a compressed air chamber at its upper. end, and a pressurefcylinder between its ends a vertical tubular agitator rotatably mounted in the'lower end of said'suction' cylinder and having an aperturedupper end, the

lower end ofsaid agitator'being provided with an upwardly'opening check valvey a normally lowered suction piston in saidsuic tion cylinder above said agitator, means establishing an operative connection between said agitator and said suction piston for .ro-

tating the former upon ascent of the latter,

a normally loweredpressure .piston in said pressure cylinder, means connecting saidsuction. piston with said pressure piston for raising the former. upon ascent of the latter, :an

air'passage from said compressed air. chamber to the lower end of said pressure cylinder, 1

said passage being provided with a normally closed valve, andmeans for opening said valve.'

2; Ina well cleaner, a vertically elongated tubular body havinga suctioncylinderrat its lower end, a compressed air chamber at its upper end, and a. pressure cylinder. between its ends; a verticaltubular agitator rot-atably mounted in the lower. end of .said suction cylinder and having an apertured upper end, the lower end of said agitator being provided with an upwardly opening check valve, a normally lowered suction piston. in' said suction cylinder above said agitator, means establishing an operative. connection, between; said agitator and said suction piston for rotating the formerupon ascentofythe latter, a nor-. mally lowered pressure piston insaidpressure cylinder, means connecting said suction ofsaid'part .to said other position r tubular body havinga suction cylinder at its lowerend, a compressedzair chamberfat" its upper end, and a pressure 1 cylinderxbetween its ends 'avertical tubularagitator rotatably mounted in: the lower end iofsaidi suction cylinder and having anapertured upper end,

theilower end of said agitatoribeingprovided with an aupwardly opening check s.valve, a normally lowered suction: piston in. said suction cylinder above said; agitator,..means' establishing an operative; conne ction; between said agitator and said suction piston-for rotating the former upon ascent of th'eila'tter, a normally lowered 1 pressure piston sin; said pressure cylinder, means connecting said su'c 'tion piston with said-pressure pistonforrais --1ng.the former upon ascent 'ofthe1-'latter,.an

3. Ina well cleaner,a vertically elongated 11c valve" for opening the latter upon movement air passage said compressed air chamber to the lower end-of said pressure cylinder,

. :said passage being providedwith a normally closedvalve, 1a'line connecting device 0011.-

, embodying ;a part disposed in one' 'position' nected withthe upper end of said body and when said connecting device is under strain but movable to another position when-said connecting device is freed of strain upon complete'lowering of theibody, Connecting means'between' said movable part and'said valve for opening; the latter upon movement of said part to saidot-her position, and'norman retracted easing-engaging mean'sto preventrotation of said body, saidmeans being connected witha movable part ofsaid line-connecting device to be project-ed against Y the-casing 7 substantially concurrently with opening of said valve.

4." In a wellcleaner, a -vertically elongated tubular-body having a suction cylinder at its lower end, acompressed :air chamber at its upper end',{and a pressure cylinder between its'ends; a vertical tubular agitator rotatably :mounted in the lower end'of said suction cylinder and having an aperturedupper end,

tl ie' lower end of said agitator being pro.-'

vided with an upwardlyopening check valve,

- a1 normally lIlClel above said agitator, means lowered suction piston in said suction-y establi hing an operativezconnection between said-agitator and. said 'suctionpiston for i f rotatingthe-former'upon ascentOf'thelaitter,

a normally-lowered pressure piston in said pressure cylinder, mean s connecting said'suction piston with saidipressurerpiston' for raisthe formeriupon "ascent of the latter, an air ipassage from said compressed air ehamber to the' 'lower end 'of-saidpressure cylinder,

said body, means- 001111ectingssaid links with V a 7 saidrva'lve #fOI}? opening thewgjlattergwhen said links buckle,- ;and sharp edged means onisaid'" I toggle-{Jinks to then zengage ithrwell casing andzhold theafores'aid body against-rotation.

V s 551Ii1a we1l cleaner,a tubular body open atits alower 'eiid,ia tubular agitator rotatably agitatorjhaving' an gopenin'g in its upper end and an upwardly "openingzcheckvyalvei at its 'lower end, vertically ,movable means for r0- ,tating saidflagitator and means f oricreating upward suction therein "said suctionumeans beingmountedin said tubular bod'yzi 1:

*' In a well cleaner, a tubular body. open-at --itsf lowe r end, a tubular agitator rotatably r inounteid insaidlower end of-said body, said gitator having an opening anda central steeply .ipitched 'nutiatiits 'upper end and an upwardly opening. check @val've" at its lower end," afnorm'all-y lowered 1 suction. piston non;

suction -pis'ton for raising the "latter, aniair rotata l in i bedy a bvesaid p s on a pa ing' -hr ugh i ut, a d-me sor-ra s- -ng said P t n o fi c ot tion of ai agit or nd produ up d isuct n h e m V 7;. Ina well cleaner, a tubular body and an upwardly opening-check valve at the lower der above said valve," a pressure cylinder endthereof, said bodyjhavinga suction cylin- 1 above said suctioncylinder, and a compressed air chamberg a-normally lowered suction piston in said suction cylinder to draw sediment into the body uponascent-of said s'uction'pis,

suction piston forraisingthe lattenanair ton, a normally lowered pressurecypiston' in x c said pressure cylinder connected --'-w 1th said passage from said compressed air chamber into the lower end of said pressure cylinder, I

alve,.

said passage havinga normally closed v and means for opening said valve.

8. In a well cleaner, a tubula r'body'and an upwardlyopening check'v alve at the lower 1 endthereof, said body having asuc'tion cylinder above saidvalve, afpress'ure cylinder [above saidsuction cylinder, and-a compressed air chamber; a normally lowered suction pis--- tonfin said suction cylinder to draw sediment into the body upon ascent of said suction pis-l ton, a normally lowered-pressure piston in said pressure cylinder connected with said passage from said compressed air. chamber into the lowerjend of saidpressure cylinder, f 7

said passage havingla' normally closed valve,

a cableeeonnecting device connectedwith the l upper end of said bodyand embodying a part movable from a normal position to another positionlwhen'said connecting device is freed "Qf strain upon complete lowering of the body,

body, said ineans having a normally closed said means,- a line-connecting device connected with the upper end of'the body and, embodying part disposedjat one -position when' said device is under'strain'but movablev I v a v to anoth'eriposition when;said'device'i's-re 1nounte.d ,in"sa1d lower end of. said body, said leased of strain-- upon coinp'lete lowering of.

an cleaner, a bo y, pnemmacau j operated cleaning means carriedj by said V c 'valve,i 'opening of hich effects operation of the-bodyfand means :ope'ratively connected 7 i i h' a' ipar 1am saidwl e fer pen ng th la t r; upon" movemen we t said otherfpos tion-n i V g] ,1 0.'In'a wellcleaner, pneumaticallyopenp" "ated cleaninganeaim carried b.

a eans having na e ypee va ve;

' pen 9 w h 'e s ts ep i a ier ai m a a in p ing ab th be ya ge' V link conn c ing a d co plin w th aid' body a d adap ed tekbu k upon :eeierl te 7' lowering of-thebody,and connectingmeans between said valve and said links for opening the latter upon buckling of said links.

11. In a well cleaner having a body to be non-rotatably held when completely lowered into a well; a line coupling above the body, toggle links connecting said coupling with the body and adapted tobuckle upon complete lowering of said body, and sharp-edged means on said links to then contact with the well casing and hold the body against rotation.

12. In a well cleaner having a body to be non-rotatably held when completely lowered into a well; a line coupling above the body, toggle links connecting said coupling with the body and adapted to buckle upon complete lowering of said body, and sharpedged rollers on the central pivots of said links to contact with the well casing upon buckling of said links, thereby holding the body against rotation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

POSEY R. SHORT. 

